Uganda losses first game in FIBA Africa Championships

Jul 23, 2016

Congo's Phillip Kabenga scored a game high 24 points as the Congolese punished the Ugandans for their slow start.

PICTURE:Uganda national basketball U-18 team captain Mathew Ochieng (right) receives the national flag from NCS general secretary Nicholas Muramagi before the team travelled to Rwanda Zone V in the U-18 FIBA Africa championship taking place July 22 -31at Amahoro stadium in Kigali. Photo/ Michael Nsubuga

Before the Uganda national basketball U-18 team left for the FIBA Africa championship at Amahoro stadium in Kigali, Ugandan captain Mathew Ochieng sounded confident of the teams' prospects at the biennial event.

"We promise that we shall do our best to ensure we come back with the trophy, we have worked so hard with the coaches, so Ugandans should expect a lot from us but also pray for us," Ochieng said then.

But the Ugandan boys opened on a losing note when they fell 79-61 to the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Amahoro stadium court.

Congo's Phillip Kabenga scored a game high 24 points as the Congolese punished the Ugandans for their slow start.

Patrick Mwamba and Jerry Nsambwa added 18 and (12+11 rebounds) respectively to give the Congolese a perfect start.

Uganda captain Mathew Ochieng led the teams' scoring 20 points and 15 rebounds, with Henry Okoth and Gideon Mukisa adding 9 points apiece for the Ugandan side.

Uganda is placed in Group B alongside Egypt, Tunisia, Benin, Angola and DRC.

Group A is comprised of hosts Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Gabon, Algeria, Mali and Ivory Coast.

The preliminary phase of the tournament will be played in a round robin format, with every team taking on its five (5) opponents in its respective group.

The top four teams from each group will advance to the Final Phase, played in a knockout format from the Quarter-Finals onwards (Semi-Finals and Final).

The 3rd Place Game and the Final will be played on the last day of the tournament (31st July).

The Winner and the Runners-up will secure tickets for FIBA U19 World Championship 2017 in Cairo, Egypt.

 

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